Top 50 Museums in Tennessee - Complete List, Map & Guide

Written and Fact-checked by | Updated On: July 10, 2026

Nashville and Memphis carry Tennessee's museum identity almost entirely through music. The Country Music Hall of Fame's distinctive building was modeled after the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, while Memphis pairs Elvis's Graceland with the National Civil Rights Museum, built directly into the Lorraine Motel where Dr. King was assassinated in 1968.

Tennessee Museums Map

The Tennessee Museums Map highlights the locations of museums across the state, including art museums, history museums, science centers, and cultural heritage institutions. Use this interactive map to explore popular museums in Nashville, Memphis, and other destinations throughout Tennessee.

Below is a fuller list of Tennessee's museums, split between Nashville's music-focused institutions and Memphis's civil rights and Elvis-related sites.

List of Museums in Tennessee

Museum Name City Category Admission Best For Official Website
Country Music Hall of Fame and MuseumNashvilleMusicPaidCountry music historyhttps://countrymusichalloffame.org
Tennessee State MuseumNashvilleHistoryFreeTennessee historyhttps://tnmuseum.org
National Museum of African American MusicNashvilleMusicPaidAfrican American music heritagehttps://nmaam.org
The ParthenonNashvilleArtPaidGreek architecture & arthttps://www.nashvilleparthenon.com
Johnny Cash MuseumNashvilleMusicPaidJohnny Cash memorabiliahttps://johnnycashmuseum.com
Frist Art MuseumNashvilleArtPaidRotating art exhibitionshttps://fristartmuseum.org
Musicians Hall of Fame & MuseumNashvilleMusicPaidMusic legendshttps://musicianshalloffame.com
Tennessee Agricultural MuseumNashvilleAgricultureFreeFarm heritagehttps://tnmuseum.org/agricultural-museum
Belmont MansionNashvilleHistoric HousePaidAntebellum architecturehttps://belmontmansion.com
Lane Motor MuseumNashvilleAutomobilePaidUnique automobileshttps://lanemotormuseum.org
Adventure Science CenterNashvilleSciencePaidInteractive sciencehttps://adventuresci.org
Andrew Jackson's HermitageHermitageHistoric HousePaidPresidential historyhttps://thehermitage.com
Tennessee Central Railway MuseumNashvilleRailroadPaidHistoric train rideshttps://tcry.org
Customs House Museum & Cultural CenterClarksvilleHistoryPaidRegional history & arthttps://customshousemuseum.org
Fort Defiance Civil War Park & Interpretive CenterClarksvilleMilitaryFreeCivil War historyhttps://cityofclarksville.com
Discovery Park of AmericaUnion CitySciencePaidScience & history exhibitshttps://discoveryparkofamerica.com
West Tennessee Delta Heritage CenterBrownsvilleHistoryFreeDelta heritagehttps://westtnheritage.com
Tina Turner MuseumBrownsvilleMusicFreeTina Turner historyhttps://westtnheritage.com
GracelandMemphisHistoric HousePaidElvis Presley homehttps://graceland.com
National Civil Rights MuseumMemphisHistoryPaidCivil Rights Movementhttps://civilrightsmuseum.org
Memphis Brooks Museum of ArtMemphisArtPaidFine art collectionshttps://brooksmuseum.org
Stax Museum of American Soul MusicMemphisMusicPaidSoul music historyhttps://staxmuseum.com
Pink Palace Museum (Museum of Science & History)MemphisScience & HistoryPaidScience & natural historyhttps://moshmemphis.com
Children's Museum of MemphisMemphisChildrenPaidInteractive exhibitshttps://cmom.com
Dixon Gallery & GardensMemphisArtPaidArt & gardenshttps://dixon.org
Memphis Rock 'n' Soul MuseumMemphisMusicPaidRock & soul music historyhttps://memphisrocknsoul.org
Edge Motor MuseumMemphisAutomobilePaidAmerican sports carshttps://edgemotormuseum.com
Slave Haven Underground Railroad MuseumMemphisHistoryPaidUnderground Railroad historyhttps://slavehavenmuseum.org
Metal MuseumMemphisArtPaidMetalworking arthttps://metalmuseum.org
Fire Museum of MemphisMemphisFirefightingPaidHistoric fire equipmenthttps://firemuseum.com
Belz Museum of Asian & Judaic ArtMemphisArtPaidAsian & Judaic collectionshttps://belzmuseum.org
Cotton MuseumMemphisHistoryPaidCotton industry historyhttps://memphiscottonmuseum.org
National Ornamental Metal MuseumMemphisArtPaidDecorative metal artshttps://metalmuseum.org
Rust Hall MuseumJacksonHistoryFreeRegional historyhttps://westtnhistory.org
Casey Jones Home & Railroad MuseumJacksonRailroadPaidRailroad historyhttps://caseyjones.com
McClung Museum of Natural History & CultureKnoxvilleNatural HistoryFreeNatural & cultural historyhttps://mcclungmuseum.utk.edu
Knoxville Museum of ArtKnoxvilleArtFreeEast Tennessee arthttps://knoxart.org
East Tennessee History CenterKnoxvilleHistoryPaidRegional historyhttps://easttnhistory.org
Muse KnoxvilleKnoxvilleChildrenPaidInteractive STEAM exhibitshttps://themuseknoxville.org
Women's Basketball Hall of FameKnoxvilleSportsPaidWomen's basketball historyhttps://wbbhof.com
Museum of AppalachiaClintonHistoryPaidAppalachian heritagehttps://museumofappalachia.org
American Museum of Science and EnergyOak RidgeSciencePaidAtomic historyhttps://amse.org
Children's Museum of Oak RidgeOak RidgeChildrenPaidInteractive exhibitshttps://childrensmuseumofoakridge.org
International Towing & Recovery MuseumChattanoogaTransportationPaidTow truck historyhttps://internationaltowingmuseum.org
Hunter Museum of American ArtChattanoogaArtPaidAmerican arthttps://huntermuseum.org
Creative Discovery MuseumChattanoogaChildrenPaidHands-on learninghttps://cdmfun.org
Tennessee Valley Railroad MuseumChattanoogaRailroadPaidHistoric train rideshttps://tvrail.com
Bessie Smith Cultural CenterChattanoogaHistoryPaidAfrican American historyhttps://bessiesmithcc.org
Chattanooga African American MuseumChattanoogaHistoryPaidBlack history & culturehttps://bessiesmithcc.org
Titanic Museum AttractionPigeon ForgeHistoryPaidTitanic artifactshttps://titanicpigeonforge.com

Tennessee Museums Facts

Fact Details
StateTennessee
Approximate Number of MuseumsMore than 500 museums
Largest Art MuseumFrist Art Museum, Nashville
Most Visited MuseumGraceland, Memphis
Largest Science MuseumDiscovery Park of America, Union City
Most Popular Children's MuseumCreative Discovery Museum, Chattanooga
Largest Natural History MuseumMcClung Museum of Natural History & Culture, Knoxville
Official State History MuseumTennessee State Museum, Nashville
Most Popular Modern Art MuseumFrist Art Museum, Nashville
Popular Free MuseumsTennessee State Museum, Knoxville Museum of Art, McClung Museum, Tennessee Agricultural Museum
Largest Museum CampusDiscovery Park of America, Union City
Major Museum CitiesNashville, Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Oak Ridge, Jackson
Popular Museum CategoriesMusic, History, Art, Science, Civil Rights, Railroad, Children's Museums, Presidential Sites
Historic Landmark MuseumAndrew Jackson's Hermitage, Hermitage
Best Time to VisitSpring and fall offer pleasant weather and ideal sightseeing conditions.
Top Family MuseumsDiscovery Park of America, Adventure Science Center, Creative Discovery Museum, Children's Museum of Memphis
Presidential MuseumsAndrew Jackson's Hermitage (Home of the 7th U.S. President)
Specialty MuseumsCountry Music Hall of Fame, National Museum of African American Music, Stax Museum, Titanic Museum Attraction
Annual Museum VisitorsTennessee museums welcome millions of visitors every year.
Top Museum RegionsMiddle Tennessee, West Tennessee, East Tennessee, Great Smoky Mountains, Memphis Metro, Cumberland Plateau
US Museums by State

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